Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Yuri Villefort

Fighter Profiles
Nah-Shon Burrell (8-2)
Yuri Villefort (6-1)

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UFC 157: Rousey vs Carmouche

Overview
With the ‘Chad Mendes vs. Manny Gamburyan’ fight dropping off the UFC 157 card, the UFC has filled the gap with a pair of ex-Strikeforce fighters, Nah-Shon Burrell and Yuri Villefort. The two were expected to face each other on September 29, 2012 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy, but the event was cancelled due to headliner and lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez getting injured. They will now face each other at UFC 157.

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Justin Lawrence vs. Daniel Pineda

Fighter Profiles
Justin Lawrence (4-1)
Daniel Pineda (17-9)

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The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale

Overview
Justin Lawrence made his first appearance with the UFC as a cast member of TUF 15: Live. He was the first overall pick by Dominick Cruz but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual winner Michael Chiesa. Lawrence came back in a huge way at the show’s finale where he won both “Knockout of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” with his brilliant head kick KO of John Cofer. He suffered a setback last time out though at UFC 150 where he was knocked out in the second round by fellow young gun Max Holloway. Lawrence dropped down to featherweight for that fight and even though he lost, at 22, he’s got all the skills to wreak havoc in that division.

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[UPDATE: Clay Guida suffered an undisclosed injury and has withdrawn from this fight]

Fighter Profiles
Chad Mendes (13-1)
Clay Guida (30-13)

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UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez

Overview
Chad Mendes gets a new opponent on a new card just days after Manny Gamburyan had to pull out of their scheduled UFC 157 fight due to an injury. No offense to Manny, but this is a much better fight for Mendes, provided he wins of course. A win over Guida definitely carries more weight than over Manny and given Mendes has won both of his last two fights by first round knockouts, a more weighted victory like this one keeps him right in line for the next title shot.

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Bart Palaszewski vs. Cole Miller

Fighter Profiles
Bart Palaszewski (36-16)
Cole Miller (18-7)

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The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale

Overview
It’s the tale of the two-fight skids as both these guys look to end theirs. Bart Palaszewski lost his last two by unanimous decision to Hatsu Hioki and Diego Nunes. Prior to that, Palaszewski knocked out Tyson Griffin at UFC 137 and earned the “Knockout of the Night” bonus for the effort. At only 29 years of age, Bart already has 52 professional fights under his belt. He has always been one of my favorite fighters to watch in the WEC back in the day where he went 5-3 with some great knockouts.

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Demetrious Johnson vs. John Moraga

***FIGHT CANCELLED*** 
More information at: Demetrious Johnson injured, pulls out of title fight against John Moraga at TUF 17 Finale

Fighter Profiles
Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1)
John Moraga (12-1)

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The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale

Overview
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will be defending his belt for the second time in less than three months. I think he really may be Might Mouse. The speedy Johnson just recently defeated John Dodson a few weeks back in a 5-round marathon of a battle that won “Fight of the Night” honors. In that fight, Johnson was rocked a few times early but he battled back and used his superior cardio to wear down and beat Dodson in the later rounds. I think Johnson pretty much sealed the deal that night on having the best cardio in the business.

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Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano

Fighter Profiles
Miesha Tate (13-3)
Cat Zingano (7-0)

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The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale

Overview
Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano is now the second women’s fight ever to be booked by the UFC, and it should be a good one.

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Travis Browne vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Fighter Profiles
Travis Browne (13-1-1)
Gabriel Gonzaga (14-6)

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The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale

Overview
Dana White was so excited about this match-up that he tweeted it just after landing in Dublin, Ireland during his current trip to the United Kingdon. Besides having a few pints with the locals, Dana is also on his way to UFC on FUEL TV 7: Barao vs. McDonald taking place this weekend in London. His Tweet (@danawhite):

“Heavyweights Gabriel ‘Napao’ Gonzaga and Travis ‘Hapa’ Brown have agreed to fight at the Ultimate Fighter Finale April 13.”

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Chad Mendes

As previously reported, Manny Gamburyan was forced to withdraw from his fight with Chad Mendes at UFC 157 next week due to injury. Due to the short notice, the UFC couldn’t find a replacement and has pulled Chad Mendes off the card.

Mendes tweeted his disappointment (@chadmendes):

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Ben Alloway vs. Ryan LaFlare Poster

Fighter Profiles
Ben Alloway (13-3)
Ryan LaFlare (7-0)

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UFC on FUEL TV 9: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi

Overview
Ben Alloway made his first appearance with the UFC as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K. The Smashes. Alloway made it to the quarterfinals of the show, but then lost to Bradley Scott by split decision. He would redeem himself though at the show’s finale event, UFC on FX 6. Alloway took on fellow TUF cast member Manuel Rodriguez and was having a tough go at it early on with Manuel’s strong grappling and wrestling, but in the closing seconds of the round, things changed in an instant. Alloway threw up an Anderson Silva-like front kick while Manny was coming at him and it landed flush on Manny’s chin (see the pic here). The KO earned him “Knockout of the Night” and a very impressive victory in his UFC debut.

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Tom Lawlor vs. Michael Kuiper Poster

Fighter Profiles
Tom Lawlor (8-5-0-1)
Michael Kuiper (12-1)

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UFC on FUEL TV 9: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi

Overview
Tom Lawlor, King of the Weigh-In, has gone 2-4 over his last six fights, and you know what, it doesn’t matter. Weigh-in antics aside, Lawlor is the kind of fighter you love to have fighting on a card. He’s got a mauling, blue-collar style that usually produces interesting results. The exception was probably his last time out against Francis Carmont. The fans booed a few times during the fight as the two cancelled each other out and then slowed down a bit towards the end, but it was still enjoyable watching them fight. Aside from that, in three out of his last seven fights, Lawlor received ‘Submission of the Night’, ‘Fight of the Night’, and ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonuses.

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